Portable radiographic image capturing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable radiographic image capturing apparatus includes a radiation conversion panel configured to output image information on the basis of applied radiation, a casing housing the radiation conversion panel therein, and a plurality of support members on which the radiation conversion panel is supported in the casing. The support members have slot structures housing wires therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of Ser. No. 15/057,319,filed Mar. 1, 2016, which is a continuation application of Ser. No.14/633,202, filed Feb. 27, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-046775 filed on Mar. 10,2014, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference intothe present application in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable radiographic image capturingapparatus that includes a radiation conversion panel for outputtingimage information on the basis of applied radiation, a casing thathouses the radiation conversion panel, and support members that supportthe radiation conversion panel in the casing.

Description of the Related Art

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-202735, for example,discloses a portable radiographic image capturing apparatus fordetecting radiation that has passed through a subject using a radiationconversion panel housed in a casing, converting the detected radiationinto image information, and outputting the image information.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-202735 discloses that theradiation conversion panel and a base plate are supported by supportmembers, which are erected in the casing from the bottom plate towardthe top plate of the casing. Further, plural circuit boards are fixed tothe lower surface of the base plate, so that the circuit boards remainprotected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the casing, the circuit boards are interconnected by harnesses (orwires) that are secured in position by clamps. One problem with thecasing concerns the difficulty encountered in case that the harnessesare laid out within the limited space in the casing. Furthermore, thecasing becomes unduly deformed on impact in case that the portableradiographic image capturing apparatus is accidentally dropped onto thefloor while in use, or under an external load applied in excess of anallowable level. In such a case the casing may cause the harnesses tobecome broken or disconnected.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable radiographicimage capturing apparatus, which prevents wires from becoming broken ordisconnected in a casing, and which allows the wires to be laid outeasily inside the casing.

According to the present invention, a portable radiographic imagecapturing apparatus is provided including a radiation conversion panelfor outputting image information on the basis of applied radiation, acasing housing the radiation conversion panel therein, and a pluralityof support members on which the radiation conversion panel is supportedin the casing.

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, thesupport members have slot structures housing wires therein.

According to the present invention, the wires are housed in the slotstructures, which are defined as gaps in the support members. Thesupport members serve to support the radiation conversion panel in thecasing, and also bear an external load applied thereto, e.g., a pressureexerted from the body of a subject. Since the wires are housed in theslot structures, even in case that the casing is deformed under externalforces, the passageways for the wires are prevented from becomingnarrowed, and the wires are prevented from being deformed. Thus, thewires that are housed in the slot structures are prevented from becomingbroken or disconnected, even in case that the wires are subjected toexternal loads and/or vibrations.

Further, since the wires are housed in the slot structures, members forclamping the wires are not required. As a result, the slot structuresallow the wires to be laid out with ease, and are effective in reducingspace.

The portable radiographic image capturing apparatus further includes aplurality of boards housed in the casing. The wires may be connected toregions of the boards, and the wires may be connected through the slotstructures to other regions of the boards or to the radiation conversionpanel.

The portable radiographic image capturing apparatus may further includea plurality of teeth, which are disposed in the support members and holdthe wires within the slot structures. Such teeth make it unnecessary touse fixing parts, including clamps, tapes, etc., and make it less costlyto secure the wires, since the number of locations where the wires arefixed is reduced.

In case that the teeth have respective surfaces made of an elasticmaterial, the teeth do not damage the wires that are housed in the slotstructures. In case that at least the corners of the teeth, which arepositioned near the wires, are rounded as viewed in cross section alonga plane normal to the longitudinal directions of the support members,then the wires are effectively prevented from becoming damaged.

In case that the slot structures extend along the longitudinaldirections of the support members, and the teeth are disposed in astaggered layout along the longitudinal directions of the supportmembers, then it is less likely for the wires to become dislodged fromthe slot structures.

In case that the support members are made of or contain an electricallyconductive material, then the support members exhibit a shielding effecton the wires that are housed in the slot structures. More specifically,generation of noise is avoided in the case where the wires, which arehoused in the slot structures, are vibrated. The shielding effect thatis exhibited by the support members is effective to prevent noise fromexternal electronic devices from being applied to the wires.

The slot structures may include crossing regions where other wiresextend across the wires. The crossing regions preferably are provided bypartially removing side walls of the support members that define theslot structures. The other wires extend across both the slot structuresand the wires that are housed in the slot structures in the crossingregions, while in addition, the other wires are held between the wires,which are housed in the slot structures, and the casing or a base platethat is disposed in the casing.

The casing includes a front face to which the radiation conversion panelis fixed, and a rear face that is held in fitted engagement with thefront face. The casing houses boards and a base plate therein, and theradiation conversion panel and the base plate are supported in thecasing by the support members, which are erected from the rear face. Theboards and the support members may be fixed to the front face by thebase plate, or alternatively, the boards may be fixed to the rear face.In either case, since the boards and the support members are disposed onthe same front or rear face, the wires can easily be connected to theboards.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description incase that taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichpreferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way ofillustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a radiographic image capturing systemincorporating an electronic cassette according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic cassette shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an electric block diagram of the electronic cassette shown inFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIGS. 2 and5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a casing before the casing isassembled;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a manner in which a wireharness and a flexible cable extend across one another;

FIG. 9A is a fragmentary plan showing a staggered layout of teeth;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of wire harnesses that are housed in aslot;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of teeth; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 2,showing a modification of the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Portable radiographic image capturing apparatus according to preferredembodiments of the present invention will be described in detail belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

Structure of the Electronic Cassette

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic cassette 10, which serves as aportable radiographic image capturing apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention, is incorporated in a radiographicimage capturing system 12. The radiographic image capturing system 12 iscomposed of a radiation generator 14 and an image capturing assembly 16.

The radiation generator 14 includes a radiation source 18, a radiationsource controller 20 for controlling the radiation source 18, and anirradiation switch 22. The radiation source 18 has a radiation tube foroutputting radiation 24, and a collimator for limiting an irradiationfield of the radiation 24.

The radiation source controller 20 controls the radiation source 18 onthe basis of a tube voltage, a tube current, and an irradiation time,which are included among prescribed image capturing conditions, so as toenable the radiation source 18 to emit radiation 24. The image capturingconditions may be set manually by the operator, typically a radiologist,who operates a control panel of the radiation source controller 20.Alternatively, the image capturing conditions may be set automaticallyby the image capturing assembly 16, and delivered through acommunication cable.

The irradiation switch 22 is a two-step switch that is operated by theoperator. By the operator pressing the irradiation switch 22, anoperation signal is output to the radiation source controller 20 forcontrolling the radiation source 18. More specifically, in case that theirradiation switch 22 is pressed one step by the operator, theirradiation switch 22 outputs a warm-up start signal as a control signalto the radiation source controller 20, which starts to warm up theradiation source 18 in response to the supplied warm-up start signal. Incase that the irradiation switch 22 is pressed two steps by theoperator, the irradiation switch 22 outputs an irradiation start signalas a control signal to the radiation source controller 20, which startsto output radiation 24 from the radiation source 18 in response to thesupplied irradiation start signal.

The image capturing assembly 16 includes the electronic cassette 10, animage capturing stand 26, an image capturing controller 28, and aconsole 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic cassette 10 has a flat box-shapedcasing 32 that is permeable to applied radiation 24. As shown in FIGS. 3and 4, the casing 32 houses therein a flat panel detector (FPD) 34 as animage detector. The casing 32 has a contoured shape, the size of whichis in conformity with International Standard ISO4090:2001. Such a sizeis essentially similar to the sizes of cassettes for half-size (383.5mm×459.5 mm) films or IPs, for example.

The casing 32 includes a front face 36 that is irradiated with radiation24, and a rear face 38 that is fitted in the front face 36. The frontface 36 has a rectangular opening 40 defined centrally therein. Theopening 40 is fitted with a top plate 42, which is lightweight andhighly rigid, and is made of carbon or a resin that is highly permeableto radiation 24. The radiation 24 is applied to the top plate 42.

The casing 32, which is lightweight as a whole, functions as anelectromagnetic shield. More specifically, the portion of the casing 32other than the top plate 42 preferably is made of an electricallyconductive resin, for example. In case that the top plate 42 is made ofa resin, the resin preferably is an electrically conductive resin. Thecasing 32, which is arranged in the foregoing manner, is capable ofpreventing electromagnetic noise from entering the electronic cassette10, and also prevents electromagnetic noise from being radiated outsideof the electronic cassette 10.

The image capturing stand 26 shown in FIG. 1 has a slot into which theelectronic cassette 10 is removably inserted. In case that theelectronic cassette 10 is inserted in the slot, the electronic cassette10 is held by the image capturing stand 26, such that the top plate 42,which is irradiated with radiation 24, is oriented opposite to theradiation source 18. Since, as described above, the size of the casing32 of the electronic cassette 10 is essentially similar to the sizes offilm cassettes and IP cassettes, the electronic cassette 10 can be usedon conventional image capturing stands that are used with film cassettesand IP cassettes.

In case that a subject 44, typically a patient, is imaged, the patientis placed upright between the radiation source 18 and the imagecapturing stand 26, and the radiation source 18 applies radiation 24 tothe subject 44. As shown in FIG. 1, radiation 24 passes through thesubject 44, and then passes through the top plate 42 to the FPD 34. TheFPD 34 converts the applied radiation 24 into a radiographic image(image information) of the subject 44, and outputs the image informationto the image capturing controller 28. In FIG. 1, the electronic cassette10 is illustrated as operating in an upright image capturing mode.However, the electronic cassette 10 may also be applied to a recumbentimage capturing mode, in which a radiographic image of a subject 44 whois lying in a recumbent position is captured.

The image capturing controller 28 is connected to the electroniccassette 10 for enabling wired or wireless communication to be carriedout with the electronic cassette 10 in order to control the electroniccassette 10. In FIG. 1, the image capturing controller 28 is illustratedas being connected to the electronic cassette 10 for enabling wiredcommunication with the electronic cassette 10.

The image capturing controller 28 sends the image capturing conditionsto the electronic cassette 10 in order to set signal processingconditions in the electronic cassette 10, for example, in order to setthe gain of an integrating amplifier for amplifying a voltage dependingon signal charges converted from the radiation 24 by the FPD 34. Theimage capturing controller 28 also receives from the radiation generator14 a synchronizing signal for synchronizing the irradiation timing ofthe radiation source 18 with an action for storing signal charges in theelectronic cassette 10. In addition, the image capturing controller 28sends the received synchronizing signal to the electronic cassette 10for thereby controlling the radiation source 18 and the electroniccassette 10 to operate in synchronism with each other. The imagecapturing controller 28 receives image information from the electroniccassette 10, and sends the received image information to the console 30.

The console 30 accepts an inspection order including informationconcerning the gender, age, imaged region, and imaging purpose, etc., ofthe subject 44, typically a patient, and displays the acceptedinspection order on a display monitor of the console 30. The inspectionorder is input from an external system such as a hospital informationsystem (HIS) or a radiologic information system (RIS) that managespatient information and inspection information concerning a radiologicalinspection. Alternatively, the inspection order may be input manually byan operator who operates the console 30. The operator confirms thedetails of the inspection order on the display monitor, and selectsimage capturing conditions based on the confirmed details through aninteractive screen on the display monitor. The console 30 sends theselected image capturing conditions to the image capturing controller28.

The console 30 performs a prescribed image processing routine on theimage information received from the image capturing controller 28. Theprocessed image information is displayed on the display monitor of theconsole 30. The image information also is stored in a data storagedevice, such as a hard disk or a memory in the console 30, or an imagestorage server that is connected to the console 30 through a network.

In case that it is desired to capture a radiographic image of a certainregion, e.g., a hand, a foot, or the like, of the subject 44, whichcannot easily be imaged while the electronic cassette 10 is mounted onthe image capturing stand 26, then as shown in FIG. 2, the electroniccassette 10 may be removed from the image capturing stand 26. Forexample, in case that a radiographic image of a hand of the subject 44is to be captured, the electronic cassette 10 is removed from the imagecapturing stand 26 and is placed on a bed or a table with the front face36 of the electronic cassette 10 oriented upwardly. Then, the hand isplaced in a substantially central location on the top plate 42, afterwhich a radiographic image of the hand is captured.

As shown in FIG. 3, the FPD 34 includes a detection panel 50 having adetection surface 48, which is composed of a pixel array made up ofpixels 46 for storing signal charges depending on an applied dose ofradiation 24, a gate driver 52 for energizing the pixels 46 to controlreading of signal charges from the pixels 46, a signal processingcircuit 54 for converging the signal charges that are read from thepixels 46 into image information in the form of digital data andoutputting image information, a control circuit 56 for controlling thegate driver 52 and the signal processing circuit 54 in order to controloperations of the FPD 34, and a communication circuit 57 that outputsimage information from the electronic cassette 10.

The pixels 46 are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix having G1 throughGn (horizontal rows)×D1 though Dm (vertical columns), which are spacedat prescribed pitches. In FIG. 3, the gate driver 52 and the signalprocessing circuit 54 are illustrated in a simplified manner.

The FPD 34 comprises an indirect-conversion radiation detector forconverting radiation 24 into visible light, photoelectrically convertingthe visible light into signal charges, and storing the signal charges.In other words, the detection panel 50 comprises a photoelectrictransducer panel for converging visible light into signal charges by wayof the pixels 46. A scintillator 58 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), which convertsradiation 24 into visible light, is disposed on the detection surface 48of the detection panel 50. The scintillator 58 is made of a phosphorsuch as cesium iodide (CsI), gadolinium oxysulfide (GOS), or the like.The scintillator 58 is formed by bonding a sheet that is coated with aphosphor to a support with an adhesive, or by evaporating a phosphoronto the detection surface 48.

The detection surface 48 is of a rectangular shape having a half-size(383.5 mm×459.5 mm), and the top plate 42 also is of a rectangular shapethat corresponds in size to the detection surface 48.

Each of the pixels 46 comprises a photodiode 60 that serves as aphotoelectric transducer for generating and storing electric charges(electron-hole pairs) depending on visible light applied to thephotodiode 60, and a thin-film transistor (TFT) 62 that serves as aswitching element. The detection panel 50 includes a TFT active matrixsubstrate having an insulating substrate, such as a glass substrate,with the pixels 46 disposed thereon.

The photodiode 60 has a structure including a semiconductor layer (e.g.,PIN type) such as an amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer, and an upperelectrode and a lower electrode, which are disposed respectively onupper and lower surfaces of the semiconductor layer. The TFT 62 isconnected to the lower electrode of the photodiode 60, whereas a biasline 64 is connected to the upper electrode. A bias power supply 66applies a bias voltage through the bias line 64 to the photodiode 60. Incase that the bias voltage is applied, an electric field is developed inthe semiconductor layer, thereby causing the electric charges(electron-hole pairs) generated in the semiconductor layer byphotoelectric conversion to move to the upper and lower electrodes, oneof which is of a positive polarity and the other of which is of anegative polarity. As a result, the photodiode 60 stores the electriccharge.

The TFT 62 has a gate electrode connected to a scanning line 68, asource electrode connected to a signal line 70, and a drain electrodeconnected to the photodiode 60. In the detection surface 48, there areas many scanning lines 68 as the number of rows (n rows) of pixels 46.Each of the scanning lines 68 is shared by one row of pixels 46. Thereare also as many signal lines 70 as the number of columns (m columns) ofpixels 46. Each of the signal lines 70 is shared by one column of pixels46. The scanning lines 68 and the signal lines 70 are arranged in a gridpattern. The scanning lines 68 are connected to the gate driver 52,whereas the signal lines 70 are connected to a reading circuit 72 in thesignal processing circuit 54.

The gate driver 52 is controlled by the control circuit 56 to energizeand de-energize the TFTs 62 such that the detection panel 50 operatesselectively in different modes. The different modes include a storingmode for storing signal charges depending on the dose of radiation 24having reached the FPD 34 in the photodiodes 60, a reading mode forreading the signal charges stored in the photodiodes 60, and a resettingmode for flushing out unwanted charges stored in the photodiodes 60.

In the storing mode, the TFTs 62 are turned off or de-energized, andsignal charges are stored in the photodiodes 60 while the TFTs 62 arede-energized. In the reading mode, the gate driver 52 generates gatepulses G1 through Gn successively at prescribed intervals for energizingthe TFTs 62 simultaneously along the respective rows, thereby activatingthe scanning lines 68 one at a time, and hence turning on the TFTs 62connected to the scanning lines 68 one row at a time. In case that theTFTs 62 are turned on, the signal charges stored in the photodiodes 60are read into the signal lines 70, from which the signal charges areinput to the signal processing circuit 54.

The signal processing circuit 54 has the reading circuit 72, whichincludes integrating amplifiers, CDS circuits, a multiplexer, and an A/Dconverter 74. The integrating amplifiers and the CDS circuits areconnected individually to the signal lines 70. The integratingamplifiers integrate signal charges that are input from the signal lines70, convert the integrated signal charges into analog voltage signals,and output the analog voltage signals. The CDS circuits performcorrelative double sampling on the voltage signals from the integratingamplifiers, and hold the voltage signals for a prescribed period oftime. Using electronic switches, the multiplexer selects the CDScircuits one at a time. The CDS circuits are assigned respectively tothe columns and are connected in parallel to each other, and themultiplexer inputs voltage signals, which are output from selected CDScircuits, in a serial stream to the A/D converter 74. The A/D converter74 converts the analog voltage signals, which are input from themultiplexer, into digital pixel values, and outputs the digital pixelvalues to the memory 76. The memory 76 stores the digital pixel valuesin association with respective coordinates of the pixels 46.

Therefore, each time that the gate driver 52 supplies one of the gatepulses G1 through Gn in order to turn on a corresponding row of TFTs 62,the memory 76 stores the pixel values from one row of pixels 46. Afterthe signal charges from all of the rows of pixels 46 have been read outfrom the detection panel 50, the memory 76 stores image informationrepresenting a single radiographic image captured by the detection panel50. The image information is read out of the memory 76, processed by thecontrol circuit 56 according to prescribed image processing sequences,and thereafter, the image information is output to the image capturingcontroller 28 through the communication circuit 57. In this manner, aradiographic image of the patient is detected.

Internal structural details of the casing 32 will be described belowwith reference to FIGS. 4 through 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the front face 36 of the casing 32 serves as a lidhaving sides 78 that extend in the direction of the arrow Z1, whereasthe rear face 38 of the casing 32 has a bottom plate 80, and sides 82that extend from ends of the bottom plate 80 in the direction of thearrow Z2. The front face 36 is fitted over the rear face 38, such thatthe sides 82 of the rear face 38 are positioned inside of the sides 78of the front face 36. Accordingly, in the interior of the casing 32, astorage space 84 is produced in which the FPD 34, etc., is accommodated.

A metal base plate 88 is supported in the storage space 84 by aplurality of spacers 86 a through 86 d, which are erected as supportmembers from the bottom plate 80. Each of the spacers 86 a through 86 dis made of or contains an electrically conductive material, such as ametal, an electrically conductive resin, or the like, and is fixed tothe base plate 88. A radiation conversion panel 90, which includes thedetection panel 50 and the scintillator 58 stacked together in thedirection of the arrow Z, is disposed between the base plate 88 and thetop plate 42. The spacers 86 a through 86 d support the base plate 88and the radiation conversion panel 90.

According to the present embodiment, at least the radiation conversionpanel 90 may be supported in the casing 32 by the spacers 86 a through86 d that are erected from the bottom plate 80. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 6, the radiation conversion panel 90 may be supported by thespacers 86 a through 86 d with the base plate 88 interposedtherebetween. Alternatively, the radiation conversion panel 90 may besupported directly by the spacers 86 a through 86 d, provided that thebase plate 88 is not housed in the casing 32.

As shown in FIG. 6, the radiation conversion panel 90 is anirradiation-side-sampling (ISS) radiation conversion panel, in which thedetection panel 50 and the scintillator 58 are successively arranged inthis order as viewed from the top plate 42 that is irradiated withradiation 24. The detection panel 50, the upper surface of which servesas an irradiation surface 92 that is irradiated with radiation 24, isattached to the bottom surface of the top plate 42 by an adhesive or thelike. The detection surface 48, which is formed by the bottom surface ofthe detection panel 50, faces the rear face 38 in opposing relation tothe scintillator 58. The scintillator 58 has a bottom surface, which isattached to the base plate 88 by an adhesive or the like.

According to the present embodiment, the radiation conversion panel 90may be a penetration-side-sampling (PSS) radiation conversion panel, inwhich the scintillator 58 and the detection panel 50 are successivelyarranged in this order as viewed from the top plate 42 that isirradiated with radiation 24. Further, alternatively, the radiationconversion panel 90 may be a direct-conversion radiation conversionpanel, which incorporates a transducer layer of amorphous selenium orthe like for directly converting radiation 24 into electric charges.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the storage space 84, a battery 94 forsupplying electric power to various components of the electroniccassette 10 is disposed between a central area of the bottom surface ofthe base plate 88 and a central area of the bottom plate 80. A pluralityof circuit boards 96 a through 96 i are fixed to the bottom surface ofthe base plate 88 in surrounding relation to the battery 94. The circuitboards 96 a through 96 i support non-illustrated circuit parts, whichfunction respectively as the gate driver 52, the signal processingcircuit 54, the control circuit 56, the communication circuit 57, andthe memory 76.

As shown in FIGS. 4 through 6, a plurality of flexible boards 100, whichsupply gate pulses for energizing the TFTs 62 to the detection panel 50of the radiation conversion panel 90, are disposed at prescribedintervals on side surfaces of the detection panel 50 that face in thedirections of the arrows Y1 and Y2. For generating the gate pulses, eachof the flexible boards 100 supports a gate driver IC chip 102 of thegate driver 52. The flexible boards 100 include portions of the scanninglines 68.

A plurality of flexible boards 104, which read signal charges, and areconstructed to include portions of the signal lines 70, are disposed atprescribed intervals on a side surface of the detection panel 50 thatfaces in the direction of the arrow X1. Each of the flexible boards 104supports a readout IC chip 106, which serves as a portion of the signalprocessing circuit 54.

The flexible boards 100, 104 are connected to the circuit boards 96 athrough 96 i that are fixed to the bottom surface of the base plate 88.

Layout of Wires in the Electronic Cassette

As shown in FIG. 5, the spacer 86 a is formed substantially in a U-shapeas viewed in plan, and the spacer 86 a extends along the circuit boards96 a through 96 f. The spacer 86 b is disposed between the spacer 86 aand the circuit board 96 e. The spacer 86 c is disposed between thecircuit board 96 g and the spacer 86 d. The spacer 86 d is formedsubstantially in a U-shape as viewed in plan, and the spacer 86 dextends along the circuit boards 96 c, 96 d, 96 f through 96 i.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 through 10B,the spacers 86 a, 86 d have slots 110 a, 110 d defined respectivelytherein, which extend along the longitudinal directions of the spacers86 a, 86 d. Wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d are housed respectively in theslots 110 a, 110 d. Each of the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d is in theform of a bundle of conductive wires, each of which is coated with aninsulating layer.

The wire harness 112 a, which is housed in the slot 110 a, connects thecircuit board 96 c and the circuit boards 96 a, 96 f to each other.Therefore, via the wire harness 112 a, it is possible for the circuitboard 96 c and the circuit boards 96 a, 96 f to send various signals toand receive various signals from each other.

The wire harness 112 d, which is housed in the slot 110 d, connects thecircuit board 96 c and the circuit boards 96 f, 96 h to each other.Therefore, via the wire harness 112 d, it is possible for the circuitboard 96 c and the circuit boards 96 f, 96 h to send various signals toand receive various signals from each other.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a case is illustrated by way of example, in which thespacers 86 a, 86 d have the slots 110 a, 110 d defined therein,respectively, and the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d are housedrespectively in the slots 110 a, 110 d. However, the present embodimentis not limited to the illustrated structure. Alternatively, the spacers86 a through 86 d may have slots defined respectively therein, with wireharnesses housed in the slots that serve to interconnect the circuitboards 96 a through 96 i for sending and receiving signals therebetween.Furthermore, the spacers 86 a through 86 d may have slots definedrespectively therein, with wire harnesses housed in the slots, which areconnected to the flexible boards 100, 104 for sending and receivingsignals between the detection panel 50 and the circuit boards 96 athrough 96 i.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the slots 110 a, 110 d are defined in the spacers 86a, 86 d, so as to open on sides of the spacers 86 a, 86 d proximate therear face 38. However, the slots 110 a, 110 d may be defined in thespacers 86 a, 86 d, so as to open on sides of the spacers 86 a, 86 dproximate the front face 36. The spacers 86 b, 86 c may also have slotsdefined therein, which open respectively on the sides thereof proximatethe front face 36 or the rear face 38.

In FIGS. 6 through 8, a case is illustrated by way of example, in whichthe spacers 86 a, 86 d are made of the same material, and the slots 110a, 110 d having side walls and bottoms are formed integrally in thespacers 86 a, 86 d by opening on sides of the spacers 86 a, 86 dproximate the rear face 38. However, the present embodiment is notlimited to the illustrated structure. Instead, the slot structures neednot be formed in the spacers 86 a through 86 d, but rather, slotstructures may be provided by the spacers 86 a through 86 d, which serveas side walls, and the bottom plate 80 or the base plate 88, whichserves as a bottom. In the following description below, slots 110 a, 110d that are defined in the spacers 86 a, 86 d will be described.

Structural details of the slots 110 a, 110 d will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 8 through 10B, the spacers 86 a, 86 d have respectiveteeth 114 a, 114 d, which are made of an elastic material such as resin,rubber, or the like, and are disposed at inlet ends of the slots 110 a,110 d in the direction of the arrow Z1. The teeth 114 a, 114 d areprovided as a plurality of teeth, which are spaced at prescribedintervals along the longitudinal directions of the spacers 86 a, 86 d.The teeth 114 a, 114 d are disposed in a staggered layout along thelongitudinal directions of the spacers 86 a, 86 d.

As shown in FIGS. 9B through 10B, at least portions of the teeth 114 a,114 d, which are disposed near the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d, or morespecifically, the corners of the teeth 114 a, 114 d that may come intocontact with the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d, are rounded as viewed incross section along a plane normal to the longitudinal directions of thespacers 86 a, 86 d.

As shown in FIGS. 9B and 10A, among the corners of the teeth 114 a, 114d, the corners that may come into contact with the wire harnesses 112 a,112 d and face in the direction of the arrow Z2, and the corners that donot come into contact with the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d and face inthe direction of the arrow Z1 are beveled in rounded shapes. Accordingto the present embodiment, at least the corners of the teeth 114 a, 114d that may come into contact with the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d, i.e.,the corners that face in the direction of the arrow Z2 in FIGS. 9B and10A, may be rounded. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10B, the teeth 114 a,114 d may have a circular cross-sectional shape.

The teeth 114 a, 114 d hold the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d reliablywithin the slots 110 a, 110 d, thus making it less likely for the wireharnesses 112 a, 112 d to become dislodged from the slots 110 a, 110 d.Consequently, in case that the components, which are stored in thestorage space 84, are provided on the front face 36, and the front face36 and the rear face 38 are interfitted to form the casing 32, as shownin FIG. 7, the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d are prevented from becomingdislodged and hanging down from the slots 110 a, 110 d.

The corners of the teeth 114 a, 114 d, which come into contact with thewire harnesses 112 a, 112 d and face in the direction of the arrow Z2,are rounded. Thus, the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d are effectivelyprevented from becoming damaged.

As shown in FIG. 5, the circuit boards 96 a, 96 d are connected to eachother by a plurality of flexible cables 120 a, which are laid out alonga gap between the spacers 86 a, 86 b. In addition, the circuit boards 96d, 96 h are connected to each other by a plurality of flexible cables120 b, which are laid out along a gap between the spacers 86 c, 86 d. Asshown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the side walls of the spacers 86 a, 86 d, whichdefine the slots 110 a, 110 d, are partially removed near the circuitboards 96 a, 96 h, thereby providing crossing regions 122 a, 122 b wherethe wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d, serving as wires, and the flexiblecables 120 a, 120 b, serving as other wires, extend across each other.

FIG. 8 shows a conceptual representation of only one of the flexiblecables 120 a, 120 b for facilitating understanding of the crossingregions 122 a, 122 b. The crossing section shown in FIG. 8 is applicableto the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, in which a plurality of flexiblecables 120 a, 120 b exist.

As described above, the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d are securelyretained in the slots 110 a, 110 d by the teeth 114 a, 114 d, and areprevented from becoming dislodged from the slots 110 a, 110 d. In thecase where the flexible cables 120 a, 120 b are laid out along the baseplate 88 between the circuit board 96 d and the circuit boards 96 a, 96h, the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d and the flexible cables 120 a, 120 bextend across each other in the crossing regions 122 a, 122 b, and aresuperposed on one another in the order of the flexible cables 120 a, 120b and the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d with respect to the base plate 88.

Consequently, the flexible cables 120 a, 120 b are held against the baseplate 88 by the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d, which are securely retainedin the slots 110 a, 110 d. Thus, the flexible cables 120 a, 120 b areprevented from floating upwardly off from the base plate 88.

Advantages of the Embodiment

As described above, with the electronic cassette 10 according to thepresent embodiment, the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d are housed in theslots 110 a, 110 d, which are defined as gaps in the spacers 86 a, 86 d.The spacers 86 a, 86 d serve to support the radiation conversion panel90 and the base plate 88 in the storage space 84 in the casing 32, andalso bear an external load applied thereto, e.g., a pressure exertedfrom the body of the subject 44. Since the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 dare housed in the slots 110 a, 110 d, even in case that the casing 32 isdeformed under external forces, the passageways for the wire harnesses112 a, 112 d are prevented from becoming narrowed, and the wireharnesses 112 a, 112 d are prevented from being deformed. Thus, the wireharnesses 112 a, 112 d that are housed in the slots 110 a, 110 d areprevented from becoming broken or disconnected, even in case thatsubjected to external loads and/or vibrations.

Further, since the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d are housed in the slots110 a, 110 d, members for clamping the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d arenot required. As a result, the slots 110 a, 110 d allow the wireharnesses 112 a, 112 d to be laid out with ease, and are effective inconserving space.

With the various circuit boards 96 a through 96 i, which are fixed tothe base plate 88 in the storage space 84, the wire harnesses 112 a, 112d are capable of interconnecting the circuit board 96 c and the circuitboards 96 a, 96 f, 96 h via the slots 110 a, 110 d.

The teeth 114 a, 114 d, which are disposed in the spacers 86 a, 86 d forholding the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d in the slots 110 a, 110 d, makeit unnecessary to use fixing parts, including clamps, tapes, etc., andmake it less costly to secure the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d, since thenumber of locations where the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d are fixed isreduced.

Since the teeth 114 a, 114 d are made of an elastic material such asresin, rubber, or the like, the teeth 114 a, 114 d do not damage thewire harnesses 112 a, 112 d that are housed in the slots 110 a, 110 d.In case that at least the corners of the teeth 114 a, 114 d, which arepositioned near the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d, are rounded as viewedin cross section along a plane normal to the longitudinal directions ofthe spacers 86 a, 86 d in FIGS. 9B through 10B, then the wire harnesses112 a, 112 d are effectively prevented from becoming damaged.

Since the teeth 114 a, 114 d are disposed in a staggered layout alongthe longitudinal directions of the spacers 86 a, 86 d in the slots 110a, 110 d, which are defined longitudinally in the spacers 86 a, 86 d, itis less likely for the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d to become dislodgedfrom the slots 110 a, 110 d.

The spacers 86 a, 86 d, which are made of or contain an electricallyconductive material, exhibit a shielding effect on the wire harnesses112 a, 112 d that are housed in the slots 110 a, 110 d. Morespecifically, generation of noise is avoided in the case where the wireharnesses 112 a, 112 d, which are housed in the slots 110 a, 110 d, arevibrated. The shielding effect exhibited by the spacers 86 a, 86 d iseffective to prevent noise from external electronic devices from beingapplied to the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d.

The side walls of the spacers 86 a, 86 d, which define the slots 110 a,110 d, are partially removed in order to provide the crossing regions122 a, 122 b where the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d and the flexiblecables 120 a, 120 b, which define other wires, extend across each other.Thus, the flexible cables 120 a, 120 b are held between the wireharnesses 112 a, 112 d and the base plate 88.

Since the spacers 86 a through 86 d and the circuit boards 96 a through96 i are fixed to the same front face 36, the wire harnesses 112 a, 112d can easily be connected to the circuit boards 96 a through 96 i.

In the above description, a case has been described in which the circuitboard 96 c and the circuit boards 96 a, 96 f, 96 h are interconnected bythe wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d, and more specifically, as one example,a case has been described in which the plural circuit boards 96 a, 96 c,96 f, 96 h are interconnected by the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d.According to the present embodiment, a case can also be applied in whicha region and another region of one of the circuit boards 96 a through 96i are interconnected by a wire harness.

In the above description, furthermore, the teeth 114 a, 114 d, which areseparate from the spacers 86 a, 86 d, are disposed in the slots 110 a,110 d. According to the present invention, the spacers 86 a, 86 d andthe teeth 114 a, 114 d may be made of the same material. In this case,in case that the spacers 86 a, 86 d and the teeth 114 a, 114 d are madeof metal, the surfaces of the teeth 114 a, 114 d preferably are coveredwith caps made of rubber, resin, or the like, in order to prevent damagefrom occurring to the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d. Alternatively, thespacers 86 a, 86 d and the teeth 114 a, 114 d may be formed integrallyfrom an electrically conductive and elastic rubber, resin, or the like.

In the above description, moreover, the teeth 114 a, 114 d are disposedin a staggered layout along the longitudinal directions of the spacers86 a, 86 d in the slots 110 a, 110 d. However, instead of the teeth 114a, 114 d, lids may be used to cover the inlet ends of the slots 110 a,110 d. Such lids are effective to prevent the wire harnesses 112 a, 112d from becoming dislodged from the slots 110 a, 110 d.

Modifications of the Embodiment

The electronic cassette 10 according to the present embodiment is notlimited to the above-described structural details. The electroniccassette 10 may be modified according to the modification shown in FIG.11.

According to the modification, the spacers 86 a through 86 d, thebattery 94, the circuit boards 96 a through 96 i, and the flexiblecables 120 a, 120 b are disposed on the bottom plate 80 of the rear face38. More specifically, according to the modification shown in FIG. 11,the spacers 86 a through 86 d, the battery 94, the circuit boards 96 athrough 96 i, and the flexible cables 120 a, 120 b, which are disposedon the base plate 88 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, are turned upside downand then placed on the bottom plate 80. As a result, the spacers 86 athrough 86 d, the battery 94, and the circuit boards 96 a through 96 iare fixed to the bottom plate 80.

Since according to the modification, the spacers 86 a through 86 d andthe circuit boards 96 a through 96 i are disposed on the same rear face38, it is easy for the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d to be connected tothe circuit boards 96 a through 96 i. Further, according to themodification, the flexible cables 120 a, 120 b are held in positionbetween the wire harnesses 112 a, 112 d and the bottom plate 80.

Although the preferred embodiment and the aforementioned modificationhave been described above, it should be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment and themodification, but various changes may be made thereto without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable radiographic image capturingapparatus, comprising: a radiation conversion panel configured to outputimage information based on applied radiation; a casing housing theradiation conversion panel therein; and a plurality of support memberson which the radiation conversion panel is supported in the casing,wherein the support members have slot structures housing wires therein,further comprising: a plurality of boards housed in the casing, and abattery, wherein the wires are connected to regions of the boards, andthe wires are connected through the slot structures to other regions ofthe boards or to the radiation conversion panel, in the casing, theboards and the wall-like support members are disposed between theradiation conversion panel and a rear face of the casing that faces afront face that is irradiated with the radiation, and in plan view, thebattery is placed at a central part of the casing, and the boards andthe wall-like support members surround the battery, and the slotstructures are formed along longitudinal directions of the supportmembers.
 2. The portable radiographic image capturing apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of teeth disposedin the support members and holding the wires within the slot structures.3. The portable radiographic image capturing apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the teeth have respective surfaces made of an elasticmaterial.
 4. The portable radiographic image capturing apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the teeth include at least corners, whichare positioned near the wires, and are rounded as viewed in crosssection along a plane normal to the longitudinal directions.
 5. Theportable radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 2,wherein: the slot structures extend along the longitudinal directions;and the teeth are disposed in a staggered layout along the longitudinaldirections.
 6. The portable radiographic image capturing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the support members are made of or containan electrically conductive material.
 7. The portable radiographic imagecapturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the slot structuresinclude crossing regions where other wires extend across the wires; andthe crossing regions are provided by partially removing side walls ofthe support members that define the slot structures.
 8. The portableradiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:the other wires extend across both the slot structures and the wiresthat are housed in the slot structures in the crossing regions; and theother wires are held between the wires, which are housed in the slotstructures, and the casing or a base plate that is disposed in thecasing.
 9. The portable radiographic image capturing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein: the casing comprises the front face to which theradiation conversion panel is fixed, and the rear face that is held infitted engagement with the front face; the casing further houses a baseplate therein; the radiation conversion panel and the base plate aresupported in the casing by the support members, which are erected fromthe rear face; and the boards and the support members are fixed to thefront face by the base plate.
 10. The portable radiographic imagecapturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the casing comprisesthe front face to which the radiation conversion panel is fixed, and therear face that is held in fitted engagement with the front face; thecasing further houses a base plate therein; the radiation conversionpanel and the base plate are supported in the casing by the supportmembers, which are erected from the rear face; and the boards and thesupport members are fixed to the rear face.